Panel Calls Shooting Accidental

Probe Says Belly-bag Holster Affected Officer's Grip On Gun

October 17, 1995|By GERALD JACOBS; Courant Staff Writer

WEST HARTFORD — A town investigation has concluded that a police sergeant accidentally shot a drug suspect two months ago because he couldn't get a proper grip on his gun as he was pulling it out of a special pouch.

Police Chief James Strillacci said Monday that as a result of the Aug. 4 shooting involving Sgt. John H. Bannan Jr., the department has prohibited the use of the pouches, known as belly bags. The department is considering further measures so the pouches -- often used by undercover or plainclothes officers -- can be used more safely.

The shooting was reviewed by the police department's firearms discharge review board, a combination of police and civilian members that investigates whenever an officer fires a weapon on duty. The board has issued a nine-page report on the incident.

Noel Alvarado, 24, of Hartford, was shot once in the leg by Bannan as Bannan and Officer Stephen Estes were attempting to detain Alvarado and others suspected to have been involved in a drug deal behind a car wash at 46 Park Road, police have said. Alvarado was treated and released from the hospital the night of the incident.

The shooting occurred when Bannan was pulling the gun from his belly bag, but got a poor grip on it and ended up with his middle finger on the trigger, the report said. The gun then went off, the bullet going through Alvardo's leg and into a car at the scene.

``There is no doubt among members of this board that Sgt. Bannan accidentally discharged his weapon,'' the board said.

Bannan immediately began first aid on Alvarado, the report said.

``As he did so, [Bannan] apologized to Alvarado, saying words to the effect, `It was an accident. I'm so sorry, man,' '' the report said. In a written statement given to police, Alvarado said that he realized the shooting was accidental, and said he hoped that Bannan ``did not feel too badly about it,'' the report said.

Alvarado later filed a notice that he intends to sue the town over the shooting.

Because the shooting was determined to be accidental, no disciplinary action will be taken against Bannan, Strillacci said. Bannan, a 14-year department veteran, was unavailable for comment Monday.

The board said Bannan had been qualified regularly by the department to use the gun, and was qualified once with using the belly-bag holster. The board said there was no evidence of any problem with Bannan's pistol, a 9mm Glock 19, which is used by all police department members.

Those familiar with the Glock 19 say that a discharge from the weapon is virtually impossible without the trigger being pulled. The standard Glock pistol issued by a factory requires that 5 pounds of pressure be placed on the trigger to discharge the weapon, said Mike Revzon, a store manager for Hoffman's Gun Center in Newington. The Glock pistols used by West Hartford police require 8 pounds of pressure.

Because there was no problem with the weapon, the board said the problem may be with the belly bag. Bannan's belly bag was a zippered, rectangular black leather pouch that held his weapon inside with a rubber holster and a Velcro fastener.

The board said regular holsters require that a gun be taken out with a firm grip. ``The belly bag permits its user to draw the contained weapon with less than a perfect grip,'' the board said.

The report went on to say, however, that the risk of a weapon being taken from a belly bag with an improper grip is limited, and that the value of its use for plainclothes and undercover police work is ``undeniable.'' Strillacci, however, said there were tradeoffs when comparing the use of pouches with regular holsters for plainclothes or undercover officers.

``You might be able to conceal it better, but it might be harder to get out,'' the chief said. ``Those [weapons] that are more `quick draw' may stand out.''